Sheet metal container



March 9, 1943. A. L. MEROLLE' 2,313;161

SHEET METAL CONTAINER Filed Nov. 19, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 20

4 FIG. 1a

FIG.6

"Fig.4

FIG. 7

INVENT OR.

ATTORNEY.

March 3 1943. A. L. MEROLLE 2,313,161

- SHEET METAL CONTAINER Filed Nov. 19, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FlG.8 FIG. 9 F|G.1O

March 9, 1943. A. 1.. MEROLLE 1 SHEET METAL CONTAINER Filed Nov. 19, 1938' 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 2]

I A 52 I Z I z INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 9, 1943 SHEET METAL CONTAINER Augustus L. Meroile, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Empire Metal Cap 00. Inc., Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application November 19, 1938, Serial No. 241,346

3 Claims.

This invention relates to containers, and the method of making the same, especially such as are manufactured from sheet metal.

One object of the invention is to facilitate the manufacture of such devices.

A further object of the invention is to provide containers which shall be satisfactory in use especially where the container is used for creams or other cosmetics.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved construction of container wherein the material receptacle is small with relation to the outside dimensions, such containers having found favor in connection with the packaging of cosmetic creams and the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved method of making containers as last referred to.

A further object is to provide an improved construction of container formed of sheet metal and comprising an inner material receptacle and an outer casing spaced from each other.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved method of manufacturing the form of container last referred to.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved sheet metal container and comprising an interior material containing receptacle, an outer casing and a neck-piece between said receptacle and casing.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved method of making containers of the construction as last referred to.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a sheet-metal container comprising an inner receptacle, an outer casing and a neck-piece between the said receptacle and casing, an improved construction of joint by which the neck-piece is secured to the outer casing.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved method of forming the structure last referred to.

Other and ancillary objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention- Fig. l is a side elevation of a container, with a closure cap applied thereto, embodying the invention, partly broken away to show a radial section of the device;

Figs. 2 to '7, inclusive, are diagrammatic, radial, sectional views showing the outer casing at different phases of construction;

Figs. 8 to 11, inclusive, are similar views show ing the inner receptacle at different stages of construction;

Figs. 12 to 14, inclusive, are similar views showing the neck-piece at di-iferent stages of construction;

Figs. 15 and 16 are similar views indicating different stages of assembly of the neck-piece and inner receptacle;

Figs. 17 and 18 are similar views showing the container at different stages of assembly of the inner receptacle and neck-piece with the outer casing;

Figs. 19 and 20 are similar views, showingbut one side of the section, the other side being identical, showing a modified form of closure-engaging surfaces; 7

Figs. 21 is a side elevation, partly broken away to show a radial section of a modified form of container, the closure being omitted;

Figs. 22, 23 and 24 are diagrammatic, radial sections showing the container of Fig. 21 at different stages of manufacture;

Fig. 25 is a similar view of a neck-piece of a modified form of container;

Fig. 26 is a similar view, partly broken away,

of the casing of such modified form of container;

and

Fig. 27 is a similar view showing the neck-piece of Fig. 25 and the casing of Fig. 26 assembled into the completed container.

Referring to the drawings, and first to Fig, 1, the container, and also the closure therefor is made of sheet metal and is circular in plan view. The container shown comprises an inner receptacle designated generally as A, an outer casing designated generally as B, a connector or neck portion designated generally as C and a closure cap designated generally as D.'

The inner receptacle comprises a cylindrical side wall I having the bottom 2 integrally formed therewith. The upper marginal edge of the side wall 5 is curled outwardly at 3, being intercurled with the marginal portion 4 of the annular neck piece into fixed and tight relationship.

The curled portion t of the neck piece is at the inner circumferential edge of a flange 5 extending inwardly from the vertical portion 6 in which is formed a screw-thread adapted to engage with a thread on a closure cap to secure the cap to the container in a well known manner. Below the vertical portion 6 the neck piece has an outwardly extending annular flange 6' the outer marginal portion '1 of which is curled downwardly and inwardly tightly about the annular wire edge 8 curled at the upper margin of the cylindrical side wall 9 of the outer casing. Below the wire edge 8 there is the annular groove l9 formed in the side wall 9 and extending entirely about the circumference of that wall. This constitutes a recess into which the curled edge 1 of the neck piece extends and permits the curled edge to pass beneath the wire edge 8 and thereby sumciently embrace and grip the same so as to be securely held thereto without the necessity of having the wire edge 8 extend outside the vertical side wall 9 or at least not to any undesirable extent.

The outer casing also has the bottom I! integrally formed with the side wall 9 and having the central recess I2 which forms the annular projection 13 forming a base upon which the container may stand.

It will be seen that with the parts assembled and fixedly secured together as described, the inner receptacle and outer casing will be spaced apart as shown, both at their bottoms and sides.

The closure cap comprises a shell member having a top wall l4 having the depending circumferential marginal flange or skirt l5. Within the shell member is nested the cap member having the top wall l6 and the depending circumferential marginal flange or skirt l? in which is formed a screw-thread for engagement with the screw-thread on the container. The lower marginal portion l8 of the shell skirt is tightly curled about the lower marginal portion of the cap skirt so that the cap is firmly pressed against the top of the shell and the cap and shell are securely held against relative movement.

Pressed between the top of the container and the closure, to form a tight seal for the inner receptacle, when the closure is screwed tightly upon the container, is a liner IQ of pasteboard or other suitable material, such liners for sealing receptacles with screw or other removable closures being well known to those skilled in the art.

It will be observed that the flange 3' on the neck piece effects the off setting inwardly of the screw-threaded vertical portion 6 of the neck piece so that when the closure is in place upon the container the outer surface of its side wall may be in substantial alignment with the outer surface of the side wall of the container.

The outer casing of the container may be formed by taking a sheet metal structure as shown in Fig. 2 of circular plan and having the cylindrical side wall integrally formed with the bottom 2!, the angle between the side wall and bottom being beveled as shown at 22. The article of Fig. 2 is then drawn into the shape of Fig, 3 having a longer cylindrical side wall 23 but of less diameter and the bottom 2-1 is less in diameter than in Fig. 2.

The structure of Fig. 3 then has formed in its bottom the inwardly extending recess 25 which results in the annular base ridge 26, the article then being as shown in Fig. 4.

The structure of Fig. 4'then is operated upon to form the article of Fig. 5 by curling its upper marginal edge inwardly as shown at 21 in Fig. 5.

The structure of Fig. 5 then has formed in it beneath the inwardly curled marginal edge, the incipient groove as shown at 28 to form the structure as shown in Fig. 6.

, The article of Fig. 6 is then treated by deepening'and completing the incipient groove 23 so that the groove as shown at 29 in Fig. 7 is formed and the wire edge is more completely closed, so as to form the structure as shown in Fig. 7.

Successive steps by which the inner receptacle may be formed are illustrated in Figs. 8 to 11, inclusive.

The cup-shaped sheet-metal blank, circular in plan, having the circumferential side wall 30 and the bottom 3| integrally formed therewith, the angle at the junction of the side wall and bottom being flattened as shown at 32, as shown in Fig. 8, is formed.

The structure of Fig. '8 is then drawn into the structure of Fig. 9 wherein the side wall 30 is longer and the diameter is less.

The structure of Fig. 9 has its upper edge, if suchoperation is necessary because of roughness of the upper edge of the structure, trimmed of such roughness to form the straight or smooth edge 32', the structure being as shown in Fig. 10.

The structure of Fig. 10 then has its mar ginal portion curled outwardly to form an annular bead or curl as shown at 33 in Fig. 11, the structure then being as shown in Fig. 11. It will be observed that in the article of Fig. 11 the curled portion 33 is not entirely closed but is left open to a suflicient extent so that it may receive the marginal edge of the neck piece so that the same may be intercurled therewith and the inner recepta'cle and neck piece held in fixed relation.

In forming the neck-piece, there is employed the cap-shaped blank of sheet metal, circular in plan, and comprising the top wall 34, the annular marginal depending side wall 35 and having at its lower marginal portion the outwardly extending flange 33 has a closure-engaging screw-thread 31 formed in its wall 35 to produce the structure as indicated in Fig. 13.

The structure of Fig. 13 is then operated upon to cut out the central portion of the top wall 34 and to bend the internal marginal portions thus formed on the said wall, vertically upward to form the substantially vertical annular flange 38 at the inner edge of the flange 39 extending inwardly from the screw-threaded side Wall, and the outer portion of the flange 36 at the bottom of the side wall is bent downwardly at substantially right angles to the other portion of that flange so as to produce a substantially vertical flange 33 depending from the marginal edge of the flange M extending outwardly from the side wall.

The inner receptacle, outer casing and neck piece, being in the final forms as described, they are ready for assembly to form the container.

To assemble the parts of the container, the neck piece is placed about the inner receptacle, the annular flange 33 being entered within the curl 33 at the upper edge of the inner receptacle, as shown in Fig. 15.

The flange 38 and curl 33 are then intercurled and pressed into fixed relation as shown at 42 in Fig. 16.

The part comprising the inner receptacle and neck piece fixed together as thus described then has the inner receptacle entered within the outer casing and the bead or wire edge at the marginal edge of the outer casing is telescoped within the flange on the neck piece and against the flange A I. The relation of the partsthen being as shown in Fig. 17.

The flange 53 is then curled tightly about the bead or curled edge 21, the edge of the curl entering within the groove 29 in the outer casing as shown in Fig. 18, so that the outer casing and the neck piece are securely and fixedly fastened together, the container being then complete as shown in Fig. l, the inner receptacle A, the neck piece C and the outer casing B being firmly and fixedly secured together to'forma strong and secure container.

Instead of having the neck. piece provided with a screw-thread for engagement with a screwthreaded closure, the cap-engaging portion of the neck piece may be made substantially cylindrical as shown at 43 in Fig. 19, and as so made being adapted to engage with the well-known form of slide-on or slip-on cap, comprising a top wall and a marginal skirt adapted to slide on the cap-receiving portion of the container and held in position by friction of the parts.

Instead of making the part 43 cylindrical, as shown in Fig. 19, such part may be made tapered as shown at 44 in Fig. 2.

With this tapered construction of closure-engaging surface on the neck piece, it will be apparent that the friction held form of cap as referred to may be made to grip the container more tightly the further it is pushed on the neck because of the wedging action occasioned by the taper.

The modified construction of container shown in Fig. 21, differs from that of the structure of Fig. 1 in the method of securing the neck piece to the outer casing. In Fig. 21 the edge of the neck piece is bent into a groove in the outer casing and then the groove is collapsed by longitudinally compressing the neck piece flange and the sides of the groove together whereby the neck piece and outer casing are securely and fixedly locked together, without the necessity of providing a bead or wire edge at the top of the outer casing, about which the edge of the neck piece is curled, as is shown in the structure of Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 21, the container therein shown is formed of sheet metal, is circular in plan and comprises the inner receptacle A, the outer casing B and the neck piece C. The inner receptacle and neck piece are formed, assembled and fixedly secured together by their tightly intercurled edges at 45, the same as shown and described in connection with the container of Fig. 1. The flange 45 below the closure engaging side 41, has its marginal portion i8 curled in between the groove sides 49 and 58 of a groove in the side wall 52 of the outer casing. The interlocking sides of the groove and the parts of the neck piece are forcibly pressed together by pressure exerted upon them longitudinally of the container so that the neck piece and outer casing are firmly locked together in fixed relation.

Referring to 22, the neck piece C and inner receptacle A having been formed and secured together by the seam 45 to form a structure precisely similar to the structure shown in Fig. 16, and which may be accomplished by precisely the same methods, the structure formed by the neck piece and inner receptacle is assembled with the outer casing by inserting the inner receptacle within the side wall 52 of the outer casing with the flange ll! of the neck piece encircling the upper marginal portion of the casing wall. The casing wall 52, adjacent its upper edge is provided with an inwardly extending groove 41, the flange 4i! overhanging such groove. The condition of the device at this stage of its construction being clearly shown in Fig. 22.

The flange 40' is then bent inwardly into the groove 41 as shown in Fig. 23, being curled about the upper side of the groove. The interengaging neck-piece flange parts and the sides of the groove are forcibly pressed together by force exerted longitudinally, that is along a line substantially parallel to the container axis, whereby the sides of the groove are collapsed into the position as shown inFig. 24.wherein the interengaging neck-piece and outer casing parts are firmly and'fixedly secured together. The construction of the container as shown in Fig. 21 is then complete.

Referring. to Figs. 25 to 27, there is therein shown, together with parts in different stages'of completion, a container comprising but a single casing, the inner receptacle being omitted. The container there shown is formed of sheet metal, is circular in plan and comprises a neck-piece C and a casing B.

The neck-piece, as preliminarily formed as shown in Fig. 25, comprises a closure-engaging wall 5!, shown as provided with screw-threads for engagement with a screw-threaded closure cap but may be adapted for engagement with any desired structure of cap, and has at its lower marginal portion the outwardly extending flange 52 which has extending downwardly therefrom, at substantially right angles, the flange 53. At its upper marginal portion the wall 5| has an integral portion 54 bent inwardly and downwardly along the interior of the wall 5! and spaced therefrom. The lower marginal portion of the part 54 is bent outwardly, passing beneath and in close contact with the flange 52'. This part 54 strengthens and stiffens the neck-piece, particularly the closure-engaging portion, and prevents material from entering the screw-thread grooves as well as provides a smooth interior for the neck.

The casing B (see Fig. 26) comprises a cylindrical side wall 55 having the bottom 56 integral therewith, its upper marginal portion being curled outwardly to form the annular Wire edge 51.

The neck-piece and casing are then assembled (see Fig. 27) by entering the wire edge 51 within the circular flange 53 (shown dotted in Fig. 2'7) and against the flange 52. The flange 52-53 is then curled inwardly tightly about the wire edge 5'! (see full lines in Fig. 27) so that the parts are tightly gripped together and the neckpiece and easing are securely and fixedly fastened together.

Whilethe invention has been illustrated in what are considered its best applications, it may have other embodiments without departing from its spirit and is not, therefor, limited to the structures shown in the drawings.

What I claim is:

1, A container made from sheet metal comprising in combination an inner receptacle surrounded by a neck-piece which is secured thereto and spaced therefrom and has a portion adapted to engage a cap for closing the opening of said receptacle, and a separate casing fast to the spaced end part of said neck-piece, for completely encasing the outside of said inner receptacle, said casing having an inturned wire edge at its upper marginal portion and an inwardly extending groove below said wire edge, the lower marginal portion of the neck-piece passing outside of the said wire edge and entering said groove.

2. A container made from sheet metal comprising in combination an inner receptacle surrounded by a neck-piece which is separate therefrom, secured thereto and spaced therefrom, and has a screw threaded portion adapted to engage a cap for closing the opening of said receptacle, and a. separate casing having a side wall secured to the spaced end part of said neck-piece and turned wire edge at its upper marginal portion and an inwardly extending groove below said wire edge, the lower marginal portion of the neckpiece passing outside of the said wire edge and entering said groove.

3. A container made from sheet metal comprising in combination an inner receptacle sumrounded by a neck-piece which is separate therefrom, secured thereto and spaced therefrom and has a crew threaded portion adapted to engage a cap for closing the opening of said receptacle, and a separate casing having a side wall and a bottom secured thereto, said casing being secured at its upper marginal-portion to the lower spaced end part of said neck-piece, the outside of the inner receptacle being enclosed by the separate casing, said casing having an inturned wire edge at its upper marginal portion and an inwardly extending groove below aid wire edge, the lower marginal portion of the neck-piece passing outside of the said wire edge and entering said groove, the upper marginal portions of the neck piece and receptacle being intercurled to positively prevent relative longitudinal movement thereof, the upper marginal portion of the receptacle being curled outwardly and forming the top of the intercurled portions of the neck-piece and receptacle whereby the top edge and interior of the receptacle are smooth and free from seam crevices.

AUGUSTUS L. MEROLLE. 

